In brief: Woman found slain in Northeast El Paso backyard

El Paso police detectives are investigating the slaying of a 53-year-old woman whose body was found in the backyard of her Northeast home earlier this week, police officials said Friday.

Police said that Nora Kim Lorts was found Wednesday afternoon in the 10600 block of Onyxstone Street in the Shearman Park neighborhood.

Police said the death, which appeared suspicious, became a homicide investigation after the results of an autopsy that was completed Friday. The cause of death was not disclosed.

The case is under investigation by the Crimes Against Persons Unit. It is the third homicide this year in El Paso compared with five at this time last year.

Anyone with information on the case may call police at 832-4400 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 566-8477.

Daniel Borunda

Police, with SWAT help, search home

Police gang investigators, with the assistance of SWAT team members, executed a search warrant early Friday at a Northeast El Paso home.

Police said officers searched a home in the 8700 block of Eclipse Street about 5 a.m. Friday as part of an investigation into a burglary of habitation case in East El Paso in early February.

Police spokesman Darrel Petry said no arrests were made and no injuries were reported. The investigation continues.

Adriana M. Chávez

Judge makes ballpark ruling final

Travis County District Court Judge Tim Sulak on Friday issued his final and written ruling on the city of El Paso's bond validation lawsuit.

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The written ruling doesn't have any surprises and sticks to what the judge ruled from the bench Feb. 21: The Downtown ballpark construction, including the demolition of City Hall, may be financed as planned, including issuing bonds to be repaid with the voter-approved hotel tax increase.

The final ruling also concludes that the city's development agreement, master lease and team lease for construction and use of the $50 million ballpark are legal and valid.

The ruling also denied an injunction halting the demolition of City Hall requested by those trying to save the 10-story building.

Sulak reinforced his bench ruling that if the opponents were to appeal "or otherwise seek delay of the final judgment," they wold have to pay a $1 million surety to the city for any damage or cost that may occur because of the delays.